Nov
22
2009
Raquel
Do you ever find yourself looking for some sort of sign when faced with a tough decision? I do. I don’t know what type of sign I’m waiting for, but I usually know it when I see it.
“Never say ‘no‘ because you are scared. Say it for a million other reasons, but never say it because you are scared of what happens if you say ‘yes’.”
Whenever you feel like you’re about to turn down something really amazing, whether it be a girl’s night dinner, a job offer, a move, a decision…keep that quote in mind. This is the time in our lives where we should be the most adventurous and open to new experiences. Don’t be afraid.
Nov
18
2009
Raquel
When I observe children in my childrens’ school, acting like wild animals in front of their parents, and the parents simply continuing to speak with a friend, or not showing any type of discipline, my blood begins to boil.
I want to go up to both the child and parent, and slap them both. When I was little, this type of behavior was simply not tolerated. The young parents want to be more like a friend, than a parent. They need to wake up and smell the coffee. Children are wanting to be given discipline, and shown between right and wrong.
When there is this sort of out of control behavior, the child is screaming out for attention. Children will respect the parents that will take the time for them, that is the bottom line. In this busy,run, gotta do attitude, the child becomes like an obstacle in what the parent has “planned” for the day. The bottom line is, the parent does not to be bothered with their children. They expect the school and or babysitter to raise their child.
Pathetic, is’nt, it?
Nov
10
2009
Raquel
I found this document the other day when I was moving files off of my computer, and then back on again. It is entitled “A sad post written 07/09/09″ and I felt like sharing it. Even though I wrote it a long time ago, I still often feel that way and I hope that this may be of comfort to others. I may have written it for this blog, but I never posted it. I don’t think I even saved it as a draft, so I don’t know why it was just lost under my documents. Anyway, here it is…..
I was talking to one of my dear friend today… We started talking about lost friend. I was sharing how he’s busy and I don’t see him much. Really he’s gone a lot too. As I was thinking about that, and how I lost one of my closest friends this year, how much I missed them. I’ve began talking to other friends, of course, and deepening my relationships with them, but it’s not the same. True, people think I am older than I am, and I have more responsibility than most people my age have, but I’m still not that old. I still need my parents, and long to talk to them again. As I was talking, my eyes filled with tears. Although I was at that very moment talking to a good friend, I felt a wave of loneness. It didn’t take long, of course, for my unknowing friend to cheer me up. After all it rarely does. I was left with a feeling… that is hard to explain. I know I am not alone. I have been blessed with amazing and uplifting friends, and my God will never leave me. I can sit alone, and feel physically alone, yet at the same time I feel my Friends arms about my shoulders. (the very description brings back memories…) So, I’m using this space to vent, and counter my loneness.
Nov
03
2009
Raquel
I know. It’s been a while. Why so long? Well, I’ve been busy. These last two weeks have been crazy. I’ve had incredible highs, and crippling lows… I was sick most of last week, just pretty wiped out I guess.
One of the hardest things for me to always face is loss. I am absolutely terrible at letting go. I don’t want this year to end, because I don’t want to say, “Good bye.” During my reflection last night, I confessed all of this and realized, I have been letting go all year. Many of my closest friends are not as close as they once were, as close as I long for them to be. Another thing I realized last night, right now I have no dreams in sight.
For as long as I can remember, I have always some “greater good” that I have been fighting for.I have to push myself even to get up in the morning. I hate that feeling… yet I can’t seem to shake it. Any new dreams I find myself excited about seem to be dashed shortly after they spike. Why is that? I don’t really know. It certainly isn’t like me.
This weekend was amazing, yet this week has left me lethargic. I hate this hum-drum feeling. Having more reasons than I can count to be thankful, excited, hopeful, and determined, why can’t I shake this numbness? Maybe I just need to refresh.
I always disappoint myself over the summer. The lack of structure leaves me undisciplined and I don’t accomplish the things I intend to. This year in particular, because I don’t look forward to loosing my friends. Some people tell me I need to start making new friends. That has never been a strong point for me. Although I can end up in a conversation with almost anybody, it takes a lot for me to really open up and trust people, as I do my friends. I bet this kind of sounds weird coming from me. Funny how those things work.
Right now, I just want to lie down. Let life pass me bye. But inside, I’m burning…grrrrr!!! I know that passion and feelings was there, I feel it, but somehow it’s trapped. When I talk to other people about such topics, I an comfortable thinking I have a good level of self esteem. I an very thankful for the way God made me, and am more than satisfied with myself. Yet most of the conflicts in my life, are internal. Almost all the time I an struggling with some internal battle against myself. I hate where my attitude is right now, yet I’m not doing anything to change it or I don’t know how to change it… It’s just there… haunting me.
Although I would like to think I’m the only one with this problem right now, I really don’t think that is true. Talking to my friends reveals a over all atmosphere of drowsiness. I pray for all our sakes that it is soon to pass…
Oct
31
2009
Raquel
A feel of Autumn was finally here,and I’m the one lucky to experience this kind of beautiful and colorful autumn or **AKI** called here in Japan,starting month of October up to the month of November…the amazing change color of the leaf called **koyo** or red season leaf.
Autumn is my favorite season in Japan. The cool air in the morning, people wearing new fashion, the new possibilities of exploring the outdoors.
Here are colorful photos of outdoors in Japan that exemplifies the season of autumn. They were chosen with no particular criteria in mind. Just a pleasure to look at. Looking at these photos, one is tempted to go out more often and be captivated by the changing colors of nature. Enjoy.
(If you liked the photos, please visit the photographers’ photostreams in flickr)
Oct
29
2009
Raquel
Love comes from “giving to someone.” When you do altruistic acts of kindness, you are giving the other person part of yourself. You will therefore feel love for the recipient of your acts of kindness - because you will find yourself included in the other person and you will identify with him. Just as you love yourself, so too will you love the other person.
The ultimate level to strive for is that even if someone wrongs you, you will view it the same as if someone’s right hand accidentally cut their own left hand. Of course while you will try to prevent this from happening, you will not take revenge on your own hand!!
The degree of love as you have for yourself is the degree of love we should have for others.
Today, think of a specific person who would gain greatly from your being more giving. (If you can’t think of anyone, that person might be you…)
Oct
18
2009
Raquel
There was a blind girl who hated herself just because she’s blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He’s always there for her.
She said that if she could only see the world, she would marry herboyfriend.
One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her and then she can seeeverything, including her boyfriend. Her boyfriend asked her, “now that you can see the world, will you marry me?”
The girl was shocked when she saw that her boyfriend is blind too, and refused to marry him.
Her boyfriend walked away in tears, and later wrote a letter to her saying.
“JUST TAKE CARE OF MY EYES DEAR.”
This is how humans change when their status changes. Only few remember what life was before, and who has always been there in the most painful situations.
TODAY BEFORE YOU THINK OF SAYING AN UNKIND WORD.
THINK OF SOMEONE WHO CAN’T SPEAK.
BEFORE YOU COMPLAIN ABOUT YOUR HUSBAND OR WIFE
THINK OF SOMEONE WHO’S CRYING OUT TO GOD FOR A COMPANION.
TODAY BEFORE YOU COMPLAIN ABOUT LIFE - THINK OF SOMEONE WHO WENT TOO EARLY TO HEAVEN
BEFORE YOU COMPLAIN ABOUT THE TASTE OF THE FOOD BEFORE YOU - THINK OF SOMEONE WHO HAS NOTHING TO EAT.
BEFORE YOU COMPLAIN ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN - THINK OF SOMEONE WHO DESIRES CHILDREN BUT THEY’RE BARREN.
BEFORE YOU ARGUE ABOUT YOUR DIRTY HOUSE, SOMEONE DIDN’T CLEAN OR SWEEP - THINK OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN THE STREETS.
BEFORE WHINING ABOUT THE DISTANCE YOU DRIVE - THINK OF SOMEONE WHO WALKS THE SAME DISTANCE WITH THEIR FEET.
AND WHEN YOU ARE TIRED AND COMPLAIN ABOUT YOUR JOB - THINK OF THE UNEMPLOYED, THE DISABLED AND THOSE WHO WISHED THEY HAD YOUR JOB.
BUT BEFORE YOU THINK OF POINTING THE FINGER OR CONDEMNING ANOTHER - REMEMBER THAT NOT ONE OF US ARE WITHOUT SIN AND WE ALL ANSWER TO ONE MAKER.
AND WHEN DEPRESSING THOUGHTS SEEM TO GET YOU DOWN - PUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE AND THANK GOD YOU’RE ALIVE AND STILL AROUND.
Have a Blessed Day…
Oct
11
2009
Raquel
**Life is a deep water test**
We begin life in the shallow water with some limited tests and struggles. We don’t really have to know how to swim yet — we can walk around the water splashing away just fine.
But as we grow, the challenges get harder and we face deeper water. We are forced to either ‘sink or swim;’ there is no other option.
How do we learn to swim through life’s deep and troubled waters?
By accepting challenges in small increments and being our own coaches. We should to tell ourselves, ‘We’re almost there. . .We did it so far and we can make it to the end.”
Stay Safe….God Bless…
Sep
22
2009
Raquel
“If there is a ‘Why,’ there will always be a ‘How.’”
Thats how my moms touched my hearts anytime,and hit me like a ton of bricks.
The happiest people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have. One of the most important life lessons my mom imparted is that “life isn’t about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.”
*We are sent to this world to achieved greatness,not merely to survive*
Don’t get to the end of your life, my mom would say, and find that you lived just the length of it; live the width as well. Dig deep, discover what that unique talent is and then go out and ‘knock it out the park.’
*Be more concerned with your character than your reputation.*
My mom directed us to work on becoming a person of sterling character. As she explained, “Your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”
She had a beautiful saying, loosely translated to mean, “Leave gentle fingerprints on the soul of another for the angels to read.”
I pray that I will have the insight and strength to perpetuate my mom’s huge beliefs. She certainly gave me all the tools, now the baton is in my hands…
Sep
18
2009
Raquel
Can you imagine how does your $3 will do for saving a child like baby Daniel?He’s havin’ an urgent liver transplant operation on the 24th of November in Taiwan.And his family are begging for your help.Please let us save baby Daniel w/ your $3 & healing power prayers & help us to spread out this project for a baby in need of our help.God Bless!
I/we would like to thank those people who showed concern to baby Daniel.
Thank you so much for the help & prayers you’d shared .May God Bless you all for your good heart & generosity.
And to all who wants to send their donations to help baby Daniel to forgo on the operation,you can send your donations in here…
Bank of the Philippine Islands branch under the account name Ma. Clarisa A. Samson, S.A. No. 3536 0445 53. Every peso counts. I beg you, please help us.
And for those who have an acct. in PAYPAL.Send it to…
ErasLT@etpi.com.ph
For the meantime, they are living in their parent’s house located at Blk 8 Lot 43,Barangay San Rafael 1, San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan,Philippines.
Sep
17
2009
Raquel
If God isn’t working miraculously every single day, what can you call the $380 total donation in Nikos paypal account in less than 48 hours from the time i/we posted the $3 for Daniel Project? God is really Good! Thank you for all the generous donors, God bless you all!Telling Clarissa, Daniel’s mom, at ym that everything will be alright and God is already making great ways to help us handle this difficulty isn’t easy. I can always feel the lump in my throat, i am not suppose to cry but I always did. It’s hard to tell the person to be strong when I am so weak.I always tell her to pray, prayer can move mountains and it always does. And if prayer power isn’t enough and God said to exert an effort, now we’re asking help through BLOGGER POWER.
One post to help us spread about this $3 for Daniel’s Project for every blogger will be a great help. I told Clarissa, maybe some doctor billionaire might bump into one post about Daniel and would shoulder the operation costs, it isn’t impossible! Nothing is impossible with God!
Can you imagine how does your $3 will do for saving a child like baby Daniel?He’s havin’ an urgent liver transplant operation on the 24th of November in Taiwan.And his family are begging for your help.Please let us save baby Daniel w/ your $3 & healing power prayers & help us to spread out this project for a baby in need of our help.God Bless!
Sep
17
2009
Raquel
George Daniel Arevalo Samson, 5 months old son of Nikos high school friend Clarissa has biliary atresia with cirrhosis and is in immediate need of liver transplant. The operation has never been done in the Philippines and the doctor’s advice is to go to Taiwan for the cheapest operation of which will cost roughly 3 Million Pesos ($60,000).
Now, no matter how much I feel ashamed for asking help , there is a must in my heart that says I have to do it for the sake of the child and their family. I am now on my knees, with tears in my eyes knocking on each of your hearts for $3 to help save Daniel’s life…
I know God moves in mysterious ways and I have faith that the Lord will grant us our fervent wish if we ask in group. I am asking for prayer power and blog power, if you have a blog please spread about this $3 for Daniel Project.
Or you might want to click Nikos paypal donate button at Nikos Blog sidebar right away, surely your $3 will bring little Daniel to TAIWAN the soonest possible time!
Thank you very much! God bless your heart!
Sep
15
2009
Raquel
How many people do you love? I’m talking about people outside of those who you are supposed to love like your spouse, children and other family members? I often hear people saying while speaking of others, “I love him or her”, but do they really?I just look around on the people that I can honestly say that I love. These are people that would be welcome in just about any aspect of my life, unconditionally. There are six people on this list of mine and don’t ask if you are on the list. If you are on the list you already know it 
It’s a good idea to take a love inventory every once in a while. Not only does it give some perspective on something that is good in your life, but more than likely these people love you as well. That is golden knowing someone cares for you unconditionally as well….
Have a Good Day..Keep on Smiling…Take Care….
Sep
13
2009
Raquel
Your family and friends all mean well. They want to support and help you through any crisis. But be aware that along with their support they bring with them the baggage of opinions and judgments that inevitably color their advice. If you allow yourself to be influenced by the well-meant suggestions of these individuals, you may find yourself falling into a deep difficulties of confusion or even depression.
No one walks in your shoes and has experienced your history. At the same time, most everyone has an agenda, an opinion on what you should or shouldn’t do based on how they see the world.
When you’re besieged with advice, be gracious about accepting it. Listen and weigh its value. Then decide for yourself about what path you need to take next.
You did the best you could for those whose lives are in your hands.
Have a Free-Worry Life …
Keep on Smiling…Take Care and God Bless
PPG
Sep
10
2009
Raquel
Sometimes there is a difference between being nice and being good. The right thing to do isn’t always what appears at first to be the nice thing to do. We are a naturally kindhearted people, but it’s important to remember that there is also a place for strictness when it can lead to a greater good.
Have a Nice and Blessed Day…take care….
Aug
31
2009
Raquel
This all came to mind the other day as I watched an elderly couple walking hand-in-hand on the sidewalk. I watched them for a couple of minutes as they walked past my house, and I simply couldn’t help but stare and smile. I never once saw them speak to each other during their brief pass by my home, but the way they held hands and walked side-by-side just exuded love and connectedness.
Holding hands is the sweetest thing. As a woman I notice very few men want to hold hands with their girlfriends/wives for they fear they will lose their macho sex appeal image but this is changing.The bizarre thing is that I see gay guys holding their boyfriend’s hands, as if they have mastered the language of love. They apparently have superceded society’s boundaries on all fronts including giving and receiving affection. Now let’s see the straight macho men learn something from these gay men with respect to their girlfriends and wives.
In my opinion, there are few things more touching, sensual or magnificent than two people who love each other holding hands. If you don’t currently hold hands with your significant other, I suggest you begin so that you, too, can feel the magic, strengthen your connection to one another and enjoy the numerous wellness benefits of physical touch.
Sigh….remembering those sweet moments with Papa lol!!!
